(HealthDayNews) — Breastfeeding mothers should avoid drinking alcohol, advises Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Alcohol is readily passed into breast milk, and heavy drinking or a daily drink can harm your baby.

A baby’s body metabolizes alcohol very slowly, so even a small amount can affect nursing and sleep patterns. Regular alcohol exposure can also affect a baby’s behavior and coordination.

If you’re craving a drink, you can limit yourself to an occasional single three-ounce glass of wine — then wait two hours or more before nursing your baby. This way, your body will be able to clear both your blood and milk of alcohol.